A disabled athlete from Northumberland is gearing up to defend his national title this weekend.

Harry Thompson, 20, from Cornhill-on-Tweed near Berwick and who is wheelchair bound as a result of muscle­-wasting Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, has won a series of events in the paralympic sport of Boccia at national and international level, and competed for England.

This weekend Harry, who hopes to one day compete for his country and take part in the Paralympics, will travel to Sheffield to defend the English title he has won on two previous occasions including last year.

Boccia is a Paralympic sport for athletes with disabilities that have a major impact on motor skills. It is a target ball sport belonging to the same family as petanque and bowls.

Harry been competing since 2009 and is twice English National BC4 Champion - including the 2014 event, and four times Disability Sport Events Boccia Open National BC4 Champion.

Last year, Harry also won gold and bronze at an international event in Poznan, Poland and finished fifth at the British Championship.

So far this year, he has won the Boccia England Open.

Harry was up until recently a member of the England squad but left due to a lack of competitive opportunities.

He continues to train with coach Barry Bowden.

This weekend he will travel to Sheffield to defend the title he has won twice before, including last year, at the English Nationals.

Harry Thompson with his gold medal at the 2015 Boccia England Open

Harry’s first international event of the year is in June, when he enters the Tatra Cup, Slovak International in Slovakia.

He has also been invited to train with BC4 world number one Marco Displatro of Canada in Florida early next year.

Harry’s ultimate aim is to represent Great Britain and take part in the Paralympics.

He said: “Boccia has transformed my life, I’ve been able to maintain strength I would of otherwise lost by training up to 20 hours a week and my condition has remained stable for many years as a result.”

Harry is self funded and spends around £10,000 a year on training, travelling and competing. He has been supported by A Smile for a Child, which provide grants for disabled and disadvantaged children, in the past.

Harry is being sponsored by wheelchair accessible vehicle converters Lewis Reed to attend the event in Slovakia and is raising funds to meets the remaining costs.

He has produced wrist bands which he is selling at £1.50 each. Harry is also appealing for further sponsorship and/or donations.